He finally pulled out, a soft whimper escaping her before she could stop it at the loss.
“We’ll see,” he quipped, nipping at her ear.
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Her legs shook as she stood, her core sore enough that thoughts of continuing were regretfully out the window. Vane’s eyes flicked to her thighs, where there was a small smear of blood, his jaw tightening.
“I hate that it has to hurt you. I hated it the first time, and I hate it now.”
She smiled softly, kissing his cheek. “It only stung for a moment. I’m fine.”
He leaned into her touch then took her hand and wordlessly led her down one of the tunnels that funneled into the cavern, both still naked, a flame flickering in his outstretched palm. When they reached the pool he had promised, there were hanging torches ready to be lit. She let her eyes slide over the walls shimmering with some sort of sparkling geode, the water tinged aqua from the minerals.
“We used to come here too, didn’t we?” she said, her voice hushed as memories flashed in her mind.
Slick skin against hers. He laughed as she splashed him. She cut him off with a kiss.
“What kind of stone do you think this is?”
Vane was looking at her now in nearly the same way he had before. But she saw it: the faint undercurrent of pain in his eyes each time he saw her. It would take years for that to leave—if they even had that much time.
She doubted it.
He said nothing, just sliding into the pool and holding out a hand for her. She took it and found the water pleasantly cool, not icy as she’d expected. Reaching for him, she ran water-slick hands over his chest and back before she took his hands in hers and scrubbed away the last remnants of blood. He brushed his lip to her forehead then dipped his head under the surface. As he rose, the water streaming off him in rivulets, she didn’t doubt for a second that he was Vulcan’s heir.
Vane was untamed, beautiful power, raw in a way even full-blooded godlings couldn’t be, not without the influence of mortal blood.
“Your turn,” he said, gaze heavy on her. “It feels nice.”
She sucked in a breath and dipped under the surface. It was calm beneath the water, peaceful even. She stayed there for a few seconds, savoring the feeling, before standing again and wiping the droplets from her eyes.
“We should go,” she said, a little breathless. “Cion and the others are waiting, I’m sure. We’ll tell them to go back to the capitol. If things go wrong in Arcadia, they’ll be ready.”
Vane nodded once, jaw tense. It was really setting in, what they were about to do.
When they returned to the cavern, they dressed quickly, and Soren braided back her hair. Vane led her down the tunnel to thecavern where he’d sent Cion and the riders. They were all awake when they entered; he must have lit the torches for them from all the way down the tunnel.
“I have a plan,” Cion said as soon as they entered.
Vane threaded his fingers with Soren’s. “Drop it. We have a better one.”
Cion narrowed her eyes, but to her credit, she only said, “Alright.”
“We’re going to Arcadia,” Soren told her. “We told you: the border only keeps mortals from entering, not gods.”
Cion looked doubtful. “And what exactly are you going to do when you arrive there?”
“Not sure,” Vane said casually. “But there’s a high chance of unrest, based on how Kronos has handled the last century. We’ll try to garner support from the gods who are already against him.”
Cion stared at them both then laughed harshly. “Thatis your ‘better’ plan? You’re going to walk into Arcadia, the land of the gods, and just hope there’s a chance they don’t kill you?”
Soren bristled. When it was put like that, it did sound a little foolish, but they were out of options.
“Nyx and her consort will be on our side at the least,” Vane said, and Soren’s throat tightened. “But what we need to do isn’t your concern, not unless we fail.”
Cion’s brows rose. “I’m assuming you want us to just fly back to my palace and wait for either good news or our deaths?”
Soren’s lips twitched. In another life, Cion and Vane truly could have been bickering siblings.
“You assume correctly,” Vane said flatly.
